I have seen Peru Song and Photographs © Patanjali V. Parimi (sing this song as Bjork or John Denver does) I have seen Peru; I have seen it all Beauty everywhere, through my lens In the Inca ruins, the Amazon jungle The birds and butterflies, and in life on the streets. Wandering on the cobbled alleyways in Cusco I have seen the descendents of Incas, the mountain people. Short, in ornate clothes they were fragile I have seen the cathedral built upon an Inca temple It stood as a monument of conquistador’s cruelty Over the little Incas that had never made A sword nor seen a horse, but made long strides in to astronomy I have seen the mighty Andes Spiritual and awakening they were majestic Hiked in the early morning at four To catch the rays atop from the heavens I have seen all the mountains, Machu Picchu The Young mountain, Wynapicchu I have seen the glory of the lost city In the dilapidated images of Inca life And on the wings of a soaring condor I have seen many a caiman in the Amazon jungle Saw a tapir and caught a rat snake Slithering it was cool in my hands, on my body, Army ants that scared my co-travelers Leaf cutter ants that had invented cultivation Millions of years before we accomplished it. I have seen the Amazon forest rain, heard loud thunders Soiled boots, swarming insects, moonlight on Madre river I have seen them all in Peru Giant pelicans , the parrot that drinks beer Cuddly sea lions and cute penguins on Ballestas Islands Boobies that swoop down upon fish from high above Like the arrows from clouds, I have seen them all Climbed the desert  sand dunes and ran down to the oasis in Huacachina I have seen mummies in Ica And tall cemeteries near Paracas   Where the memories of the dead are stacked up in 3D The only way for the crowded six billion on the Earth, it seems The mountain country in the morning was gorgeous I have seen humming birds savor nectar busily Brilliant birds of paradise amidst plethora of orchids Twin apples for my eyes and soul I drank everyday healing cocoa tea, Light and herbal it was my caring companion. I bathed in a soothing hot spring that smelt sulphor Peruvians are nice, very nice and helpful Their Pisco sour and chicha were great And llamas and alpacas on the mountains were amusing. In the evening, flute music in the air at Plaza de Armas At night, dance and live band at Mama Africa Were exciting and memorable. Beyond ‘hola’ and ‘adios’ Started learning Spanish  in the bathroom For  ‘C’ is hot and ‘F’ is cold, unlike I knew Before the water flayed my skin I was happy to realize. For the day after, I said “man(y)ana de man(y)ana” They found me funny at the hotel reception Not wanting to get in to more trouble Played dumb charades for the rest of my trip. I have seen Peru; the Incas, the Andes and the Amazon The good, the fabulous, and the best I have seen them all I have seen them all.